Yes. In Ontario, real estate transactions—including purchases, sales, refinancing, and title transfers—must be completed through a lawyer's office. These transactions involve title searches, lender documentation, legal compliance, and electronic registration.

Only licensed lawyers can make the required compliance-with-law statements and register documents in Ontario's electronic land registration system.

In addition to the purchase price, buyers should budget for:

• Ontario land transfer tax
• Legal fees and disbursements
• Title insurance (if obtained)
• Adjustments such as property taxes or utilities

Eligible first-time homebuyers may qualify for a land transfer tax rebate, which can significantly reduce overall closing costs.

Title insurance is not mandatory in Ontario, but it is commonly used in residential real estate transactions. It may provide protection against risks such as:

• Title defects
• Certain liens or encumbrances
• Encroachments
• Errors in public records
• Title fraud

Many lenders require title insurance as part of the mortgage process. While it can be helpful, it does not replace proper legal advice.

A status certificate is a key document in a resale condominium purchase. It contains important information about both the unit and the condominium corporation, including:

• Common expenses and arrears
• Reserve fund details
• Rules and restrictions
• Financial and legal matters affecting the corporation

In Ontario, the condominium corporation must provide the certificate within 10 days of request and payment. The fee is capped at $100 (including taxes). It should always be reviewed before closing.

Both are forms of property co-ownership, but they differ in how ownership is structured:

• Joint tenancy includes a right of survivorship, meaning an owner's interest typically passes automatically to the surviving owner(s) upon death.
• Tenancy in common allows each owner to hold a separate share, which does not automatically pass to the other owner(s).

The appropriate structure depends on your specific circumstances, so it is important to obtain legal advice before setting up a title.

Yes. Title can sometimes be transferred without a traditional sale, such as when:

• Adding an owner
• Removing an owner
• Transferring property within a family

Even in these situations, there may still be land transfer tax implications, lender consent requirements, ownership structure considerations, and registration steps. Legal review is recommended before proceeding.